A 'HOT' Topic

I absolutely LOVE campfires!  I know it's got to be from all my years up at camp.  I went to girl's camp at Tapawingo, an island in the middle of Lake Pleasant...belonging to Camp-of-the-Woods, from when I was 7 years old, until I was 14.  We had campfires nearly every night there, and we would sing around them, cook over them, and just enjoy the warmth and cozy feeling that campfires bring.  I learned a lot about Jesus while sitting around those fires!

When I was older, I worked on the mainland at Camp-of-the-Woods from 1980-1989. We would have lots of campfires with the staff and with various guests I knew who were visiting.  Cooking s'mores was the best thing then, besides snuggling with whoever it was I was in love with 'dating' at the time.  Seriously though, the fires always brought that same feeling as they did at Tapawingo.  A warm, fuzzy closeness to those I was with, and to our heavenly Father.  We sang many beautiful songs around the fires, and to this day, I remember them well.

Tonight our family decided to have a campfire in the beautiful firepit Zachary built for us over the summer when he was home from college.  We cooked hot dogs on the grill, then when we finished, we sat around the fire and just enjoyed the peace and quiet around us.  Rob took the opportunity to burn a few items we had laying around that we wanted to get rid of, so it made for some pretty impressive flames, but it still was mysteriously peaceful and relaxing!

To me fire represents peace, comfort, warmth and it reminds me of songs sung about Jesus.  "Pass It On" was a big one!  It starts with 'It only takes a spark to get a fire going, but soon all those around will warm up to it's glowing.  That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it. You spread the love to everyone, you want to pass it on."  To others, fire may represent pain, heat, unforgiving flames, and evil.  Of course that's what life will be like for the unbeliever, but I don't have that fear.  I don't look at it with the same eyes as they do.  

Tonight as I got close to the fire to move the wood around, or to take some photos, it was hot.  It was so hot I couldn't stand close for very long.  I even couldn't tolerate the smoke if the wind happened to blow my way.  The good part about it...I don't have to fear living out eternity this way.  I get to live out

the rest of my life with Jesus Christ, in heaven.  Heaven is a beautiful place with no pain, no sorrow, and no sin.  It's the one place you want to be when you die!  Friend, don't let your ignorance, your sin, and your heart get so hardened that you turn your back on the free gift of eternal life.  Jesus died for you and for me.   Take that free gift and accept it.  Believe Jesus died for you, rose again and is one day coming to take us home again!